Kitchen renovations are nice, as long as you can afford them. Unfortunately, not many homeowners have this luxury, given that the average cost to give a kitchen a facelift is around $12,000 to $60,500. From cabinetry and flooring to countertops and lighting, everything costs money, so the kitchen renovation can easily become one of the most expensive home improvement projects.
But what if we told you it’s possible to breathe new life into your kitchen without breaking the bank? That’s right, and the thing about cheap kitchens is that they don’t look cheap at all, as long as you know how to properly save money on the renovation without affecting either functionality or aesthetics. This blog will teach you how to transform your kitchen on a budget, so check out the tips below! ourier service for large items
Plan, plan, plan
While freewheeling may be nice on a road trip, it’s not the same when it comes to a kitchen remodel. You need to do some pre-planning if you want to create a stunning culinary space that will inspire you to prepare the most delicious recipes—all while avoiding overspending! So, before you even begin any work, take the time to evaluate your current kitchen space.
Consider what you like, what you don’t like, and what you find awkward or uncomfortable about the designs, and decide which features you would like to keep ( the more you keep, the more money you can save). At this stage, you also want a clear idea of the design style you’d like, which will help you avoid costly change orders later. Don’t worry – this is actually the most fun part of the kitchen remodelling process! All you have to do is scroll on Pinterest and create a mood board of inspiring kitchen designs and features you love. Once you’ve gathered enough ideas, you can look for commonalities in design styles, colours, and fixtures, which will ultimately help you stick to a style that resonates with you the most.
Keep the current layout
Any major changes to the kitchen layout will be very costly. Just think about it—moving the dishwasher or sink often means paying a professional to do the work, purchasing new materials, and opening up walls. But if you are happy with the current layout, there’s no need to do any of that, which is a great way to save some bucks while remodelling the kitchen.
Now, keep in mind that this doesn’t mean you cannot make any changes in the layout – as long as it doesn’t involve moving plumbing services, go for it! Even if you consider adding a kitchen light or an outlet, that will still translate into a reasonably inexpensive improvement in your kitchen space.
Repair appliances
Buying a new refrigerator means that the old one will not be used anymore, and this is true for any other appliance in your home. Most of the time, it will end up being sold as scrap metal or landfilled. However, this isn’t good for the environment – and it’s not good for your bank account, either. So, consider repairing appliances instead of buying new ones, as this can be a lot less expensive and helps you avoid disposal issues. It’s possible to fix some appliances on your own, such as a dishwasher, water heater, water softener, and microwave, to name a few.
Here’s a word of caution, though: make sure that you stay safe when taking this DIY job and choose to work only on those appliances that are detached from water drain lines or water supply, and are fully unplugged. Also, check for appliances that may tip- for instance, dishwashers can dip when released from the bay in base cabinetry, and refrigerators also tend to be top-heavy.
Replace kitchen cabinet doors
Suppose your kitchen cabinets are still in good shape, but maybe you want to upgrade them. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to invest in brand-new cabinets; rather, you can replace the doors only. The process is quite seamless, as you can get kitchen units in standard sizes, ensuring ease of installation and compatibility.
This means you won’t need to buy cabinet doors from the company where you initially purchased the cabinets. And do you know what this means? It means that you have a wide range of options to choose from! The only thing you need to do is ensure that the doors have compatible hinges and that they are the right size.
Opt for less expensive materials
While refurbishing existing materials may not always be possible, there’s always the alternative to opt for less expensive ones, which will ultimately help you keep the kitchen budget within reason. For instance, you can opt for floating floors like laminate or luxury vinyl plank. Similarly, when it comes to countertop material, choosing laminate is a good idea because it tends to be one of the most cost-effective, and some laminate countertops don’t even require professional installation, so it can be a DIY task.
Another way to save money on materials is to opt for ready-to-assemble options. Again, since it’s not challenging to assemble the pieces on your own, there’s generally no need to pay for labour costs. You’ll have cabinets sold flat-packed, and the assembly will likely utilise an innovative cam-lock fastener system. This means that there won’t be any pieces constructed from scratch, saving you money in the kitchen remodelling process.
Pay attention to lighting
Lighting is such a powerful element in the kitchen, as it serves both a functional purpose (task lighting) and a decorative one (ambiance). While there are many lighting fixtures out there that are definitely splurge-worthy, there’s no need to spend a ton of money on them, as there are budget-friendly ways to get a high-impact look in your kitchen. For example, you can install a chandelier in a breakfast nook or pendant lights over the kitchen island. For task lighting, you can invest in recessed lighting, which will allow you to chop vegetables efficiently for dinner, making cooking as seamless as possible.
You can always save more money by installing light fixtures on your own, as this is a very easy DIY project that you can successfully complete if you take the right steps.
Takeaway
Whether you want to remodel your kitchen as a way to boost your home’s value or because you want to make it more comfortable or functional, it’s only normal to want to save money on this project. And the good news is that these tips will help you design the kitchen of your dreams without breaking the bank! In the end, a kitchen remodel is worth the time and effort, given that it will meet your needs better and increase the ROI when it’s time to sell your home.
